Pope Leo XIV Appoints Kenyan and Ugandan Priests to Key Vatican Roles

Pope Leo XIV has appointed three Africans, including a Ugandan Catholic priest and a Kenyan development expert, as Consultors to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Kenyan-born Caritas Africa executive secretary Lucy Afandi Esipila and Ugandan theologian Fr. Emmanuel Katongole, and Burkinabè economist Dr. Omer S. Combary were among 12 people appointed to the advisory body.

According to the Holy See Press Office, the appointments announced on Tuesday, August 18, bring expertise in theology, peacebuilding, agriculture, rural development, humanitarian work and advocacy to the Dicastery.

Kenyan expert joins Vatican body

Esipila brings experience in humanitarian work, development communication and advocacy to her new role.

She currently serves as Regional Executive Secretary of Caritas Africa, becoming the first woman to hold the position after her election in May 2023.

Her work with Caritas began in 2012 as an Assistant Livelihoods Programme Officer in the Catholic Diocese of Maralal.

During her time in northern Kenya, Esipila worked with pastoralist communities on food security, livelihoods, gender, communication and development, participating also in disaster-risk reduction programmes supporting communities affected by climate change and competition for water and pasture.

Esipila later managed Radio Mchungaji 94.5 FM in Maralal before becoming national coordinator for research, communications and advocacy at Caritas Kenya.

She joined Caritas Africa in 2020 and has since been involved in advocacy and engagement with the African Union, European Union and United Nations, focusing on climate action, food security, humanitarian response, economic challenges and development.

Esipila studied communication and public relations at Moi University and currently oversees the Caritas Africa secretariat from Lomé, Togo.

Also Read: African Catholics React as Trump Escalates Feud With Pope Leo XIV

Ugandan priest appointed

Fr. Katongole, a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kampala, is a professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States.

He also works with Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, where his research focuses on political violence in sub-Saharan Africa, reconciliation, peace studies, political theology and environmental ethics.

Ordained a priest in 1987, Katongole previously taught theology and World Christianity at Duke University, where he helped establish the Duke Center for Reconciliation, and is also the founder of the Bethany Land Institute, which works with young people in Uganda while promoting environmental stewardship and sustainable development.

Katongole holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium and has authored several books examining Christianity, violence, reconciliation and hope in Africa.

Burkina Faso economist appointed

Dr. Combary is a lecturer and researcher at Université Thomas Sankara in Ouagadougou, specialising in agricultural economics and rural development.

His research covers agricultural productivity, technology, poverty measurement and factors affecting rural households in Burkina Faso.

He has been a member of the African Growth and Development Policy Modeling Consortium since 2012 and has participated in research and training programmes on development interventions and impact evaluation.

Combary holds a doctorate in economics from the University of Ouagadougou.

Also Read: Catholic Bishop Suspends Six Priests Over Alleged Mismanagement of Church Resources

Other appointees

Pope Leo XIV also appointed nine other professionals from Europe, Asia, Australia and the United States as Consultors.

They include Catholic clergy, university professors, social ethics scholars and professionals in healthcare and business.

Among them are Msgr. Peter Klasvogt, Fr. Francesco Coluccia, Fr. Joseph Jeyaraj Swaminathan, Paolo Foglizzo, Peter G. Kirchschläger, Kathryn A. Koch, Jacqueline Remond, Caren Rodrigues and Clemens Sedmak.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

Pope Leo XIV and the three African appointees to the Vatican’s development dicastery. PHOTO/ ACI Africa.